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Fasting-induced adipose factor/angiopoietin-like protein 4 (FIAF/Angptl4) was recently introduced as a novel adipokine influencing glucose and lipid homeostasis. In the current study, we quantified circulating FIAF/Angtl4 levels in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CD) as compared to controls with a glomerular filtration rate above 50 ml/min. FIAF/Angptl4 was determined by ELISA in control (n=60) and CD (n=60) patients and correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, in both groups. Median serum FIAF/Angptl4 levels were more than 5-fold higher in CD patients (48.3 μg/l) as compared to control subjects (8.4 μg/l) (p<0.001). Furthermore, serum creatinine independently predicted FIAF/Angptl4 concentrations in multiple regression analyses in control subjects (p<0.01). In CD patients, C-reactive protein was independently and positively associated with circulating FIAF/Angptl4 (p<0.01). Taken together, we show that serum FIAF/Angptl4 levels are significantly increased in end-stage renal disease and independently associated with markers of renal function in control subjects.

Naturally occurring poly d(A-T) from testes of Cancer borealis was prepared starting with a fibrous DNA-RNA complex. The complex was chromatographed on a methylated albuminkieselguhr column, fractions with a high poly d(A-T) content were collected, treated with a large amount of pancreatic ribonuclease and rechromatographed on methylated albumin-kieselguhr.The purest preparations obtained had 0.74 mole ''lo of cytosine and 0.71 mole Controlled dialysis of the poly d(A-T) against distilled water resulted in a hyperchromic shift closely resembling thermal melting. Graded addition of bivalent metal (preferably Mg") to the dialyzed polymer at room temperature reversed the hyperchromic shift. The term "ionic freezing" is suggested for the transition from coil to helix induced by the addition of metal. The mitlpoint of this transition, designated I f , is as characteristic for a preparation of DNA as T,. I n the Mg++ to P ratio range of 0 to 0.5 both values are directly proportional, and the change in I f of 10 pM Mg++ corresponds to the change in T , of 5". I n this Mg" to P ratio range, the metal is bound stoichiometrically. Divalent cations differ in their efficiency of reforming helix and are arranged in the following series starting with the least effective (highest T m at 50 pM) : Zn>Mg> Ba>Ca>Mn>Co. The ion-induced coil to helix transition is pH dependent. The ion-induced transition may also be accomplished in 8 M urea provided the temperature is lowered to -0.5".From several considerations it seems probable that the bases participate in metal binding.Partial separation of the strands of poly d(A-T) after dialysis and their reunification by the added Mg" was confirmed by electron microscopy. Biological implications of this finding were discussed in terms of the possible role of Mg in tJhe initiation of strand separation. of guanine.